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MuyeDoboTongji

A translation of Muye Dobo Tongji by Sang H. Kim is available on Amazon and other booksellers

The Muye Dobo Tongji (also spelled Muyedobotongji) is a book documenting Korean martial arts, published in 1795 C.E. It is an expansion upon a previous work known as the Muyeshinbo. Muye Dobo Tongji was commissioned by King Jeongjo in 1790. The title translates as "Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts". The book was published in four volumes. It was written by Yi Deokmu (이덕무, 1741–1793), Pak Je-ga (박제가, 1750–1805) and Baek Dong-soo (백동수, 1743–1816). A translation by Sang H. Kim is available on Amazon.com.

Unlike the Muyeshinbo (which focuses entirely on armed combat), Muye Dobi Tongji includes a chapter on unarmed combat (called Gwon Bop), including a list of "forms" not unlike Taekwondo forms. An illustrative excerpt from Kim's translation:

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  • 1. Two contestants stand with their hands on their left and right sides respectively.
  • 2, 3. Initially make the Tammase (Scouting Horse Posture) striking and pulling the left shoulder with the right hand.
  • 4, 5. Immediately make the Yoranjuse (Breaking Bird Elbow Posture) striking and pulling the right shoulder with the left hand.
  • 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Move forward and make the Hyunkak Huheese (False Prey Posture) kicking the right hand with the right foot and the left hand with the left foot, then the right hand with the right foot.
  • 11, 12. Immediately make the Sunranjuse (Docile Bird Wing Posture) turning to the left once and hitting the right foot once with the left hand.
  • 13. Continuing, make the Chilsung Kwonse (Seven Star Fist Posture) cleaning the fist from left to right.
  • 14. Make the Kosapyungse (Four Levels Posture) punching to the front once with the right hand and left leg.
  • 16. Make the Dosahpse (Throwing Posture) and raising both hands high and looking back.
  • 17, 18. Turn the body around to the rear, making Ilsahpbose (Drizzling Walking Posture) placing the right hand under the right armpit.
  • 19. Make the Yodanpyunse (Single Whip Posture), jumping one step and striking the right buttocks.
  • 20. Make the Bokhose (Prone Tiger Posture) moving forward and squatting.
  • 21. Stand up, turning to the right, making the Hyunkak Huheese (False Prey Posture).
  • 22. Make the Hasahpse (Pinning Posture) turning to the left once and kicking the right hand with the left foot once.
  • 23. Immediately make the Dangdupose (High Block Posture), blocking to the front with the left hand and covering the forehead with the right hand.
  • 24. Make the Kigose (Flag Beating Posture) clearing the left and right sides.
  • 25. Make the Joongsahpyungse (Four Level Posture) thrusting to the rear once with the right hand and left foot.
  • 26. Make the Dosahpse (Throwing Posture) looking back to the front.
  • 27. Turn around , making the Dokiryongse (Falling and Riding the Dragon Posture) opening the left and right hands.
  • 28. Make the Yodanpyunse (Single Whip Posture) moving forward and kicking.
  • 29, 30. Make the Maebokse (Ambushing Posture) moving forward again with the body flat and straight, then squat.
  • 31. Stand up, making the Hyunkak Huheese (False Prey Posture).
  • 32. Continuing, make the Hasahpse (Pinning Posture) and the Dangdupose (High Block Posture).
  • 33, 34, 35. Then immediately make the Kigose (Flag Beating Posture), Kosapyungse ( Four Level Posture) and Dosahpse (Throwing Posture).
  • 36. Immediately make the Ilsahpbose (Drizzling Walking Posture).
  • 37. Make the Yodanpyunse (Single Whip Posture).
  • 38. Immediately make the Ohwa Junshinse (Five Flowers Winding Around the Body Posture) turning to the right with the right hand and leg.
  • 39. The two contestants face each other and make the Ahnshi Chukshinse (Goose Wing Posture) and the Koahose (Straddling Tiger Posture).
  • 40, 41. Contestant One makes the Hyunkak Huheese (False Prey Posture) kicking to the left and right and lunging forward. Contestant Two makes the Kooyuse (Focus and Winning Posture) blocking with the left and right hands, and retreating.
  • 42. Make the Ahnshi Chukshinse (Goose Wing Posture) and Koahose (Straddling Tiger Posture).
  • 43, 44. Contestant Two immediately makes the Hyunkak Huheese (False Prey Posture) and moves forward. Contestant One makes the Kooyuse (Focus and Winning Posture), retreating. Then both immediately make the Ahnshi Chukshinse (Goose Wing Posture) and the Koahose (Straddling Tiger Posture) and turn and stand up.
  • 45. Contestant One moves forward, making the Bokhose (Prone Tiger Posture). Contestant Two makes the Kumnase (Arresting Posture) and jumps over Contestant One, immediately making the Bokhose (Prone Tiger Posture). Then Contestant One makes the Kumnase (Arresting Posture) and jumps over Contestant Two.
  • 46, 47. Both immediately make the Pogase (Throwing Shelf Posture), striking the right instep with the left and right hands, then make the Jumjoose (Picking Elbow Posture).
  • 48, 49, 50. Contestant One grabs the left shoulder of Contestant Two with his right hand, then Contestant Two puts his right arm under the right armpit of Contestant One, placing it over the throat and grabbing the left shoulder of his opponent. Both turn their backs against each other, pulling with their left hands. Contestant One then puts his opponent on his back and throws him to the ground diagonally. Contestant Two spins his body and lands on the ground.
  • 51, 52. Then immediately Contestant Two puts his opponent on his back and throws him to the ground diagonally. Contestant One spins his body and lands on the ground and they end.
Muyaedo-1450194370

Muyaedo-1450194370

Artist's interpretation of the Muye Dobo Tongji


Influence on Modern Martial Arts[]

Reading the Muye Dobo Tongji is what inspired Hwang Kee to evolve Tang Soo Do into Soo Bahk Do.

References[]

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